In the alliterative line, as a general rule, only syllables with the chief accent carry either the alliterating sounds or the four rhythmical accents of the verse. All other syllables, even those with secondary accent, count ordinarily as the 'theses' (_Senkungen_) of the verse[54]:
_síndon þ[=a] =b=éarwas =b=l[=é]dum gehóngene =w=lítigum =w=[æ´]stmum: þ[=æ]r n[=o] wániað [=ó] =h=[=á]lge under =h=éofonum =h=óltes fr[æ´]twe_. Phoenix 71-73.
In compound words (certain combinations with unaccented prefixes excepted) the first element of the compound (which modifies or determines the meaning of the second element) has the primary accent, the second element having only a secondary accent, e.g. _wúldor-c[`y]ning_, _h[=é]ah-sètl_, _s[=ó]ð-f[`æ]st_.[55] If therefore the compound has, as is mostly the case, only one alliterative sound, that alliteration must necessarily fall on the first part of the compound:
_=w=[=í]tig =w=úldorcyning =w=órlde and héofona._ Dan. 427.
Sometimes it happens that in hemistichs of no great length the second part of the compound carries one of the two rhythmical accents of the hemistich, e.g.
_on =h=[=é]ah-sétle =h=éofones wáldend._ Cri. 555.
and in a particular form of alliteration[56] it may even contain one of the alliterating sounds, as in the verse:
_hwæt! we =G=[=á]r=d=éna in =g=[=e]ar=d=águm._ Beow. 1.
The less strongly accented derivational and inflexional suffixes, though they are not allowed to alliterate, may occasionally have the rhythmical accent, on condition that they immediately follow upon a long accented syllable, e.g.
_mid =W=ýlfíngum, þ[=a] hine =W=ára cýn._ Beow. 461.
_ne méahte ic æt =h=ílde mid =H=rúntínge._ ib. 1659.
The rhythmical value of syllables with a secondary accent will be considered more fully later on.
These general rules for the accent of compound words formed of noun + noun or adjective + noun require modification for the cases where a prefix (adverb or preposition) stands in close juxtaposition with a verb or noun. The preposition standing before and depending on a noun coalesces so closely with it that the two words express a single notion, the noun having the chief accent, e.g. _onwég_, _[=a]wég_ (away), _ætsómne_ (together), _ofd[=ú]ne_ (down), _toníhte_ (to-night), _onmíddum_ (amid); examples in verse are: